Discover Your Career in Outdoor Education: Teach, Lead, and Explore the Wild

Set off on a transformative journey through Wyoming’s high peaks and Utah’s iconic red canyons while developing the skills and experience to launch your career as an outdoor educator. The Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators is a hands-on course designed for individuals passionate about teaching and leading in the outdoors. This course will immerse you in a variety of stunning environments—backpacking through mountain ranges, skiing through pristine snowfields, climbing granite rock faces, and canoeing across peaceful waters. Throughout this expedition, you will learn the technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills needed to become a successful outdoor educator.

Photo credit: Wilson Cheung

Why the Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators Will Shape Your Career

Embark on an experience that will change the way you approach outdoor teaching. This course isn’t just about exploring wild places—it’s about transforming into a confident, capable leader in the field of outdoor education. From gaining hands-on teaching experience in dynamic settings to mastering the essential skills of risk management, wilderness first aid, and Leave No Trace practices, you’ll build a strong foundation for a career dedicated to guiding others in the great outdoors.

As you navigate rugged landscapes and teach diverse groups, you will grow both as a leader and as an educator, gaining real-world knowledge that will serve you throughout your career. By the end of this course, you’ll have the skills to not only survive in remote environments but also to thrive as an educator, communicator, and leader in outdoor settings.

Photo credit: David Morgan

Explore Diverse Outdoor Environments Across Wyoming and Utah

The Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators takes you through a variety of awe-inspiring natural landscapes, offering a rich learning experience in some of the most beautiful regions of the United States. Over the course of the semester, you’ll travel through:

• Wyoming’s High Peaks: Trek through rugged mountains, camp in snow shelters, and learn to navigate off-trail in remote terrain, all while developing essential outdoor teaching skills.

• Utah’s Red Canyons: Explore towering rock formations and challenging desert terrain, testing your skills in rock climbing, group facilitation, and environmental stewardship.

With each new location, you’ll engage in different types of wilderness travel, from backpacking and skiing to climbing and canoeing, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for growth. Along the way, you’ll build your ability to teach in diverse outdoor settings, from facilitating group discussions to leading technical skills clinics.

Key Skills You Will Develop

In this immersive course, you will gain a wide range of skills that go beyond outdoor survival. You will develop both technical wilderness skills and interpersonal leadership abilities that are essential for any aspiring outdoor educator. Some key areas of focus include:

• Outdoor Leadership: Learn to lead with confidence in diverse, often challenging environments, fostering teamwork, communication, and decision-making in real-world situations.

• Teaching Techniques: OE students not only master the core content but also practice designing engaging educational activities, delivering dynamic curriculum, and facilitating meaningful group discussions, including briefing and debriefing sessions. This comprehensive approach equips you to lead with purpose and foster growth in your students.

• Risk Management: Understand how to assess, manage, and mitigate risks in remote environments to ensure the safety of your group at all times.

• Wilderness First Aid & Leave No Trace: Earn your Wilderness First Responder certification while learning essential outdoor skills like risk management, environmental stewardship, and Leave No Trace practices.

• Off-Trail Navigation: Develop the skills to navigate through challenging terrain using both traditional and modern techniques, learning to manage risks associated with remote travel.

Photo credit: Anthony Samaripa

Course Structure: A Semester of Outdoor Adventure and Education

Week 1: Orientation and Wilderness First Aid Training

Start the course by meeting your instructors and fellow participants, and receive your Wilderness First Responder certification. During this week, you will also begin learning about group management, risk assessment, and Leave No Trace principles.

Week 2-6: Field Expeditions in Wyoming & Utah

The next five weeks will be spent in the field, where you’ll engage in backpacking, skiing, climbing, and canoeing. Each week, you’ll receive practical teaching experience by facilitating activities and debriefing sessions. You’ll navigate through diverse landscapes, honing your leadership skills and understanding the environmental challenges of each location.

Week 7-9: Reflections, Advanced Leadership, and Group Teaching

In the final weeks of the course, you’ll build on your experiences to take on more complex leadership roles, guiding your group through increasingly challenging environments. You will also reflect on your journey, receiving and giving feedback to improve your teaching techniques and leadership style.

Final Day: Course Debrief and Graduation

Return to base for a final debrief, celebrating your achievements and reflecting on how the course has shaped you as a leader and educator in outdoor environments. You will leave with the skills and certification needed to begin your career as an outdoor educator, along with a network of like-minded peers to support you in your future endeavors.

Challenges and Rewards of Outdoor Education

The Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators will push you physically, mentally, and emotionally. You’ll face unpredictable weather, challenging terrain, and the demands of leading and teaching in remote areas. But overcoming these challenges will not only build your resilience, it will deepen your understanding of outdoor education and leadership. You’ll gain the confidence to make high-stakes decisions under pressure, and you’ll develop stronger communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution skills that will serve you throughout your career.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is ideal for aspiring outdoor educators, guides, and leaders who are eager to challenge themselves and learn through real-world experiences in the outdoors. Whether you’re considering a career in outdoor education or looking to strengthen your skills for leading outdoor programs, this course will give you the tools and knowledge to succeed in the field.

Photo credit: Prasad Gadgil

Join the NOLS Community and Take the Next Step in Your Career

By completing the Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators, you’ll become part of a global network of NOLS alumni—outdoor leaders, educators, and innovators who are making an impact on the world. Whether you’re teaching outdoor skills, guiding expeditions, or working in environmental education, you’ll have the support and connections of the NOLS community to help you reach your career goals.

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey, develop your leadership skills, and begin your career in outdoor education? Take the first step today and enroll in the Spring Semester for Outdoor Educators!